Opioids Fueling Surge in Overdose Deaths

According to recent statistics, deaths by overdose have surged by more than 17 percent since 2015. It is just another sign of the opioidaddiction crisis that has gripped the nation. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has released a report showing several startling statistics.

Preliminary data shows that the rate of fatal overdoses rose to close to 20 people per 100,000 in just a year. That is up from 16.3 deaths per 100,000 people. The highest death rates have occurred in Ohio, New Hampshire, Kentucky, Rhode Island and West Virginia.

In recent years, drug overdoses have become the leading cause of death for people younger than 50. Most of these deaths occur due to overdoses of synthetic opioids. Dr. Robert Anderson, chief of the CDC mortality statistics branch, cautions that these numbers are only preliminary results of the study.

The mortality report includes deaths by heart attack, cancer and other causes through mid-2017, but opioid deaths are only released from 2015 to 2016. This is due to the complex nature of toxicology reporting and information that is needed to confirm death by overdose.

No matter the numbers, experts agree that America is in the midst of a crisis. There are two groups of people primarily being affected: older adults that are becoming addicted to pain medication, and younger people who are taking opioids and overdosing on those synthetics.

If you or a loved one is battling drug addiction, there is help available. Reach out to our addiction rehabilitation center in Tampa for assistance. We understand what you are going through and we can help you.